Hydrolysis of steroid epoxides



Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 2,582,263 .HYDROLYSTSDF STEROID EPOXIDES PauI 'E. Marlatt, Arthur R. Hanze, A Vern McIntosh, Jr., and Robert H. Levin, Kalamazoo,

' -Mich., assignors to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, -Mich,, a corporation of Michigan N Drawing. Application September 28,1950, Serial N 0. 187,364

8 Claims. (01. zoo- 239155.)

wherein Ac is an 'acyl group which is the residue of an organic monocarboxylic organic acid, especially such acids containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, wherein Acy is an acyl group which is the residue of *a lower-aliphatic acid containing up to and. including eight carbon atoms, and wherein A is the adduct radical of a dienophile selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhyd'ride, and loweralkyl diesters of maleic acid, especially loweralkyl diesters containing from one to eightcarhon atoms, inclusive, in the esterifyin-g groups.

It is an object of the presentinventionto provide a novel group of compounds which are useful in the preparation oifsteroid-compoundscontaining an oxygen-atom at'carbon atom eleven. Another object of the invention "isthe provision of a process fortheproduction of the "novel-compounds, adducts of 3,9,1l-triacyloxy-fl-pregnadien-ZO-ones. Other objects of the invention will become apparent hereinafter.

The compounds of the present invention, "as previously stated, are useful in the preparation of steroid compoundshaving an oxygerratom'attached to carbon atom eleven. "Such compounds are of particular interest in the "fieldofsteroid research due to the biologicalactivity'o'fthe cortical hormones and certain known derivatives thereof, which oxygenated steroids are known to have biological'effectsdiffering markedly from the unoxygenated steroids. It is, therefore, of importance to investigate the oxygenated derivatives of such adducts, as Well as 'theiritransformation products. The importance of such investigation is moreover emphasized bythe acute shortage of adrenal cortical hormones, and the absence of anypresent suggestionforxalleviation of the said shortage except through 'organicsynthesis.

Novel compounds of the present invention which are of particular interest are those compounds of the above generic formula wherein the adduct bridge (A) is represented by the graphic formula:

8 H d-ooou a which is representative ofthe maleic anhydride adduct.

The compounds of the present invention are usually'colorless crystalline solids. They are convertible to 3,9,1-l-trihydroXy-5,7 pregnadien-ZO one malic acid 'ad'duct alkali metalsal'ts by'hydrolysis with an alkali metal hydroxide in an organic'solvent, and tothe free maleic-acid adduct"by' neutralization-of a solution 'ofthe alkali metal'saltswith a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid.

The 3,9,1l-triacyloxy-5fl pregnadien-ZO-one adducts of the present invention are prepared from a selected 3-hydroxyor '3-acyloxy-'9;1'1 'oxido EvR pregnadien-Z'O-Qne maleic anhydride,

maleic acid, or dialkyl maleate adduct of the formula AcO- wherein A is hydrogen or an acyl group which is the residue of an organic monocarboxylic acid such as those indicated previously within the value of Ac, and wherein A has the value given previously. The selected 9,11-oxido adduct is reacted with an excess of acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of stannic chloride at a temperature between about minus fifty and plus fifty degrees centigrade, preferably between about minus ten and plus ten degrees centigrade. Instead of the acetic anhydride, other lower aliphatic acid anhydrides which are liquid at the said temperatures, e. g., propionic, butyric, Valerie or hexanoic anhydrides, may be employed, to give, of course, instead of the acetoxy derivative, the

acyloxy derivative corresponding to the anhydride employed. Alternatively, other lower aliphatic acid anhydrides may be employed, e. g., heptanoic or octanoic anhydrides, using an inert organic solvent as reaction medium for those higher anhydrides which may be solid at the reaction temperatures employed. If a S-hydroxy 9,11- oxido adduct is reacted with the anhydride in the presence of stannic chloride, the 3-hydroxy group will be acylated and likewise, if a 9,11- oxido maleic acid adduct is reacted with the anhydride, some transformation to the maleic anhydride adduct may occur. After a suitable reaction period, e. g., 45 minutes, the reaction product may be poured into ice and water and the mixture stirred until all of the acetic anhydride has hydrolyzed, during which time the product precipitates and may be filtered ofi.

The starting 3-substituted-9,1l-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-ZO-one adducts have the formula given previously, and are prepared by epoxidation of the 9,11 double bond of 3-substituted5,7,9(1l)- pregnatrien-20-one adducts, of the formula:

CH5 I adducts are conveniently prepared by the selective oxidation of an enol ester of an adduct of 3- acyloxybisnor 5,7,9(11)-cholatrien-22"al, represented by the formula:

wherein A and B have the values previously given, B in this case excluding the free hydroxy group.

Adducts of 3,22 diacyloxybisnor 5,7,9(ll),20 (22) -cholatetraenes [22-enol esters of 3-acyloxybisnor-5,7,9(ll)-cholatrien-22-als] are conveniently prepared by subjecting an adduct of a 3-acyloxybisnor-5,7 ,9 11) -cholatrien-22-al, of the formula:

wherein A and B have the values previously given, to the action of an acid anhydride or an acid halide in the presence of an alkaline salt of the acid. The starting adducts of 3-acyloxybisnor- 5,7,9(11)-cholatrien-22-als can be prepared from adducts of 3-esters of dehydroergosterol by selective oxidation as described and. claimed in the copending application Serial 111,100 of Robert H. Levin, filed 1949 August 18, and as more fully described hereinafter.

The 3-esters of dehydroergosterol, from which the 3-acyloxybisnor-5,7,9 (11) -cholatrien-22-al adducts are prepared, can be synthesized in several ways starting with ergosterol. For example. ergosterol can be transformed to dehydroergosterol with mercuric acetate according to known methods [Windaus et al, Ann. 465, 157 (1928)] and the 3-hydrcxy group of the dehydroergosterol acylated by known procedure. Alternatively the 3-hydroxygroup of ergosterol can be acylated prior to the preparation of the dehydro derivative, a procedure which is particularly preferred in the preparation of the 3-acetoxy derivative. The adducts of dehydroergosterol are then prepared by the addition of maleic anhydride or the like to dehydroergosterol or a 3-ester thereof according to known methods EHQnigmann, Ann. 508, 89 (1934)]. The anhydrides can then be converted to their corresponding acids and esters if desired.

The ester group, when present in the 3- position of dehydroergosterol, ls'for the purpose of protecting the 3-hyd-roxy group in subsequent chemical reactions. For this purpose "any oonvenient ester ofan organic carboxylic acid, which is non-reactive under the conditions o'f'the reaction, is suitable. The preferred acids are-the fatty acids such "as formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, hexanoic, heptanoic; octanoi'c; dibasic acids such as malonic, succinicyphthalic; cycloaliphatic acids such as c-yclopentanoic and cyclohexanoic; andaromaticacids such asbenzoic, toluic, andthe like. The acids may also contain substituents such'as halogenpalkyl, the methoxy radical, and the like, and these substituents will be carried throughout the synthesis. If desired, the-acyl groupcanbe changed to another acyl group bysaponi'f ying the ester to give a E-hydroxy compound, which can then be re-esterified aspreviously described.

A preferred method for preparing some of the dehydroergosteryl adducts comprises the saponification of a 3-acyloxy-adduct of dehydroergosterol with dilute alkali followed by acidification. The 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic'acid'thusformed can be converted to the 3-hydroxyanhydride by heat, or it can be converted to any desired .3-iacyl'oxy anhydride adduct by heating under reflux: with the appropriate acid anhydridev or chloride in pyridine solution. Dialkyl esters. of the .previously mentioned dicarboxylic acidx'adducts can be prepared by subjecting the aoid to the. action of an esterification reagentsuchas 'azdiazoalkane [Wilds et al., J. Org. Chem. 13, 763 (1,948)], e.g., diazomethane, diazoethane, diazobutane, and the like.

The selective oxidation'of: an adductof'dehydroergosterol, or a 3-ester thereof, to produceianiadduct of 3-hydroxybisnor-'5,7,9(.ll)*-cho1atrien-22 a1, or a 3-ester thereof, isaccomplished by dis.- solving the dehydroergosteryl adduct in a suitable solvent, cooling to about;minus 80 to plus degrees centigrade, and passing, ozone; into. the solution until about.l.0. to 1.25. moles of ozone per mole of adduct have been absorbed. The temperature of the solution should be maintained below plus 30 degrees centigra'de,preferably between a temperature of minus. 30 and minus 70 degrees centigrade, during the addition of ozone, although temperaturesas low asmlnus 80 and as high as plus 30 degrees centigrade areoperative. The lower temperatures of the preferred range are readily obtained by cooling the solution of the adduct with a bath of solid carbon dioxidein acetone or the like, although various. other methods of cooling can be. used. Many of the. customary solvents used in ozonizations such as chloroform, acetic acid, carbon tetrachloride,

ethylene chloride, methylene chloride, and the like, can be used.

The ozonides are then decomposed under reducing conditions, that is, in the absence of oxidizing agents, whether. added or formed in the course of the reaction by products. of decomposition of the ozonide. This means that excess oxygen formed by decomposition ofthe ozonideis prevented from forming hydrogen peroxide by combining with any moisture present, and that molecular oxygen is prevented from oxidizing the aldehyde thus formed. This cannbe conveniently accomplished by decomposing the ozonide in glacial acetic acid by" the addition of finelypowdered zinc.

As'is conventional with ozonizati'ons when conducted in solvents, other than glacialmcetic acid,

the solventused for ozonization is"replacei -after completionof the ozoriization, by adding glacial acetic acidand removing the lower-boiling solventby fractionaldistillation. Alternatively, the solvent can be removed by careful warming under reduced-pressure prior to the addition-of glacial acetic acid, if desired.

After decomposition of the ozon-ide and removal of the zinc, the aldehyde can be recovered by diluting the acetic acid with water, "or in other-conventional manner, such as byformati'o'n of an aldehyde derivative, e. g., thedinitrophenylhydrazone.

Adducts of 3-substitut'ed 22-acyloxybi'snor- 517,5;(1-1 ,20 22.)--cholatetraenes E22-eno'1-esters of adducts of 3-acyloxybisn0r-5,7',9'( II )--cholatrien- ZZ-alslcan be conveniently prepared by heating the corresponding B-hydroxy or acyloxyaldehyd'e maieic acid, maleic acid "anhydride, or maleic acid ester adduct with alarge'excess or anorganic carboxylic acid anhydride-in the presence of a smallamount of the=-alkali-metal salt-of the acid corresponding to the anhydride employed or 'an'acid-catalyst such as para-toluenesulfonic or sulfuric acid. The preferred anhydride is acetic anhydride, out other anhydrides, such as propionic, butyric, Valerie, hexanoic and octanoic anhydrides, as well as benzoic acid anhydride, orthc-toluic acid anhydride; and the like, are also operative. The acid anhydrides' can also be substituted by non-reactive-groups. such as halo, allzyl, and methox-y, asin the caseof chlbroacetic, ortho-toluic, or methoxybenzoic acid anhydrides. The reaction can be convenientlyfollowed by=observing the color changes in'the'reacti'on mixture, optimum yields being-obtained by discontinuing the application of heat when thecolor of the soluticn changes from yellow to brown. Ordinarily the reaction is heated at about 140 degrees centigrade for from about four to-sixhours, but temperatures as low as and as high as '180 degrees centigrade are also operative. The reaction is usually conducted at the boiling point of the anhydride, but in the case of the higher-boiling anhydrides, such asbenzoieanhydride, a suitable temperature control, such as 100-150 degrees centigrade, must be used, since the-adduct otherwise tends to decompose in the: higher temperature range. If a 3-hydroxy: aldehyde adduct is thus reacted with an anhydride, the hydroxy group will be acylated, and, similarly, if a'maleic acid adduct is used. instead of a. diester" or: an anhydride, the anhydride. will be formed. The enol ester can be isolated; by'removing: the excess anhydride under reduced pressure, and separating the enol. ester from alkalimetalsalts, which procedure yields a productsufliciently pure. for most purposes,.but which can blBifllIthEI purified by recrystallization fromsacetone-water, acetonepentane, or likepairs ofsolvents, desired.

The ozonization of the. thus-prepared enol acylate to produce 3-acyloxy-5.,7,9 (11.)-pregnatrien-20one adducts involves dissolving the enol ester in a suitable solvent, cooling to about minus eighty degrees centigrade to plus thirty-degrees. centigrade, and passing ozone, ozonized air, or ozonized oxygen into the solutionuntil 'aboutfln to about 1.25 moles, preferably 1.0 to 1.1 moles, of ozone per mcle'of adduct: have been absorbed. The addition of ozone to the 20:22 double-bond is so rapid that only a small amount of' ozone escapes from the reaction mixture, 'and' the amount of ozone ordinarily required therefore closely approximates the theoretical amount. Loss to the solvent, it any loss occurs, must be taken into consideration in calculating the amount of ozone to be introduced. The temperature of the solution should be maintained below plus thirty degrees centigrade, preferably between a temperature of minus thirty and minus seventy degrees centigrade, during the addition of ozone, although temperatures aslow as minus eighty and as high as plus thirty degrees centigrade are operative. The lower temperatures of the range are readily obtained by cooling the solution of the adduct with a bath of solid carbon dioxide in acetone or the like, although various other methods of cooling may be employed. Many of the customary solvents used in oz'onizations, such as chloroform, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, acetic acid, and the like, can be used for the ozonization reaction.

The 20:22 ozonides thus produced are then decomposed under conditions normally employed for decomposition of such compounds. This can be accomplished conveniently by decomposing the 'ozonide with hydrogen peroxide, by hydrolysis,

with zinc in glacial acetic acid, or by a catalytic amount of colloidal metal such as silver, platinum, or palladium in a solvent, such as glacial acetic acid, alcohol, or ethyl acetate, in which latter case reductive conditions, e. g., a hydrogen atmosphere, are also employed. The use of reductive conditions is well established in the art lHill and Kelly, Organic Chemistry, page 53, The Blackiston Company, Philadelphia (1934); Church et al, J. Am Chem. Soc. 56, 176-184 (1934); Gilman Organic Chemistry, Second Edition, page 636, John Wiley and Sons, New York (1943); Long, Chem. Reviews 27, 452-454 As is conventional with decomposition of ozonides with zinc, when the ozonizations are conducted in solvents other than glacial acetic acid, the solvent used for the ozonization is replaced, after completion of the ozonization, by adding glacial acetic acid and removing the lower-boiling solvent by fractional distillation, or the solvent can be removed by careful warming under reduced pressure prior to the addition of acetic acid, if desired. After decomposition of the 20:22 ozonide and removal of the metal, the ketone can be recovered by diluting the acetic acid with water, or by other conventional procedure for the recovery of ketones, such as by formation of a carbonyl derivative, e. g., the 2,4-"

dinitrophenylhydrazone. Recrystallization from acetone or the like results in a more highly purified ketone product. The 3-hydroxy ketones are prepared by saponification of the 3-acyloxy group to give the 3-hydroxy ketone diacid, which can then be converted to the anhydride or a diester, if desired, by heating in a vacuum or by reaction with a diazoalkane respectively.

The preparation of the 3-hydroxyor 3-acyloxy-9,l1-oxido-5,7-pregnadien 20 one adducts involves the oxidation of the corresponding 3- hydroxyor 3-acyloxy-5,7,9 l1) -pregnatrien-20- one adduct using an organic peracid or concentrated hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. Hydrogen peroxide is usually employed in the form of a twenty to ninety percent by weight aqueous solution, a thirty percent solution being preferred. The reaction is carried out by stirring the adduct and oxidant together, preferably in an organic medium which is non-reactive under the reaction conditions. Suitable media include chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, mixtures of ether and chloroform, glacial acetic acid, and

many others. The ratio of oxygen-furnishing agent to steroid can be varied considerably within broad ranges. Ratios of up to twenty moles to one are operative, but ratios of from one to four moles per mole of steroid are preferred for attainment of optimum yields, the exact ratio being preferably varied inversely with the re- 7, action time desired to be employed. The term perature of the mixture is usually maintained at from about zero degrees to about degrees centigrade for a suitable period, e. g., from about one-half to twenty-four hours, depending on the concentration of oxygen-furnishing agent, and the 9,11-oxido compound then isolated in any convenient manner, such as by volatilizing the reaction medium, extracting the residue with chloroform, filtering, volatilizing the chloroform, and recrystallizing the residue, e. g., from eighty per cent aqueous acetone. Alternatively, the compounds may be recovered by pouring the reaction product into water, filtering the solution, and drying the precipitate. The 9,1l-oxido compound is usually obtained in a state of high purity after one or two recrystallizations. A convenient reaction medium when the oxidant is hydrogen peroxide is glacial acetic acid, and, when such is employed, the 9,l1-oxido compound is separated readily by pouring the reaction product onto cracked ice to precipitate the 9,11-oxido compound, filtering, and recrystallizing the dried crude product, e. g., from ethyl acetate. The B-acyloxy 9,1l-oxido compounds, when such are prepared from corresponding 3- acyloxy-5,7,9(1l) -pregnatrien-20-ones, are readily convertible to the B-hydroxy compounds by saponification with a base, which procedure is productive of the 3-hydroxy diacid, which can then be converted to the 3-hydroxy anhydride by heat in a vacuum, or to the B-hydroxy diester by treatment with diazomethane, diazoethane, or the like.

The following examples are illustrative of the process and products of the present invention, but are not to be construed as limiting.

Preparation 1.Dimethyl maleate adduct 0 dehydroergo'steryl beneoate To a solution of 21 grams of dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydroergosterol in 69 milliliters of warm pyridine was added 9.5 milliliters of benzoyl chloride. After standing at room temperature for fifteen minutes, the mixture was poured into 1400 milliliters of ice-water and the solid removed by filtration, dried, and recrystallized from acetone. There was thus obtained 26.4 grams of dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydroergosteryl benzoate, melting at 203 to 205.5 degrees centigrade.

Preparation 2.Dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydro'ergosteryl acetate In a manner essentially that described in Preparation 1, the dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydroergosteryl acetate, melting at 1'17 to 179 degrees centigrade, was prepared from the dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydroergosterol and acetyl chloride.

Preparation 3.-Dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydroergosteryl formate A solution of six grams of dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydroergosterol in fifty milliliters of 87 percent formic acid was heated under reflux for one hour. cooled. and the dimethyl maleate adduct of dehydroergosteryl formats:

filtered therefrom. Upon crystallization fromv acetone, the purified material melted at 177.5 to 178.5 degrees centigrade.

Preparation 4.--Maleic acid adduct of: dehydroergosterol I-reparation 5.Maleic anhydride adduot or 3- heptanoyloicydehydroergosterol The maleic acid adduct of dehydroergosterol from Preparation 4 was dissolved'in a mixture of seven milliliters of warm pyridine and fourteen milliliters of heptylic anhydride, and the mixture heated under reflux for one hour. eighty percent of the reaction solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue then dissolved in methyl alcohol.- The methyl alcohol solution was concentrated and cooled to yield 418 grams of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-heptanoyl'oxydehydroergosterol, melting 186-1915 degreescent'igrade= Preparation 6-.-=-Mul eic anhydride; adduct beta-aeetoxybz'snor-5,7,9611)wholatrien-ZZ-al A solution of 5.35 grams of themaleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoxydehydroergosterol in 107 milliliters of methylene chloride was cooled to about minus seventy degrees centigrade and ozonized until 505 milligrams of ozonehad been absorbed. The temperature of the solution was then gradually raised to about plus ten to fifteen degrees centigrade, whereupon seventy milliliters of" glacial acetic acid was added and the methylene chloride removed under reduced pressure. Seven grams of zinc dust was then added to the cold solution at a uniform rate over a period of ten minutes, while keeping the reaction temperature below plus twenty degrees Centigrade.

After being stirred for fifteen minutes, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate poured into water. There was thus obtained 4131 grams of maleic anhydride adduct of 'S-beta-aeetoXybiS- nor-5,7,9(11) -cholatrien-22'-al, a fine white powder which melted at 187-197 degr'eescentigrade.

To a solution of 0.30 gram of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoXybisnor-5,7,9(11)- cholatrien-ZZ-al, in thirty milliliters; of. ethanol,.

was added twenty'milliliters of alcohol containing one percent 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and.

three percent concentrated hydrochloric acid. The mixture was allowed to stand for one: hour at room temperature and. then placed: in a refrigerator to complete precipitation of the yellow crystals. The precipitate was then collected and recrystallized from a mixture of chloroform and alcohol, to give the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone of the maleic anhydride. adduct off3.-beta-acetoxybisnor-5,7,9(1.1.)i-eholatrien-22-al; melting. at 269-271 degrees centigrade.

On crystal- Preparation V -Mame; anhydrideadduct of 3- beta-acetoaiyb'z'snor-5,7,9(11) -choZatrien-Z2-.al A two-liter, round-bottom. flask was charged with fifty grams (0.93 mole) of dehydroergosteryl acetate maleic anhydride. adduct and one liter of methylene chloride. The solutionwasv cooled to Dry-Ice temperature with a trichloroethylene bath and. ozonized oxygen passed through at a rate of 1200 milliliters of. oxygenrper minute (at this rate the ozonizer was producing about36 milligrams of ozone per minute). The. flow of ozoni'zedoxygen was. maintained for 1-28 minutes,

a total of 4608 milligrams percent). of ozone being passedrinto thesolution. The reaction mixture was transferred. to a two-liter, round-bottom flask fitted with. a capillary and a condenser for downward distillation, 300, milliliters. of acetic acid added,,and the methylene chloride distilled over in vacuo at forty degrees centigrade or below. The flask was.v then placed in a water bath and fitted with a stii'rer. Anadd itional 200 milliliters of acetic acid was added and the ozonide decomposed by the addition of fifty grams of zinc dust. The zine dust was added in portions over a period of. twenty to. thirty minutes. while the solution was stirred and. the temperature maintained at seventeen to twenty degrees centigrade.

After addition, the mixture was stirred for an.-

other twenty minutes. and then filtered. The

precipitatedzinc dust was washedby filtering 100 milliliters of acetic acid: therethrough, and the filtrategradually diluted with water (11001101200 milliliters) until. the. product had been drowned out. The product was then cooled in the. refrigerator overnight and filtered. The yield of crystalline product was 42' grains, assaying 89-95 percent. or the desired aldehyde.

Preparation 8 In a manner essentially that described in Preparation 6, the following compounds. were prepared (1) Maleic anhydride adduot of 3-beta-formoxybisnor-5,7,9 (11) -.cholatrien-22-al, melting at. 95-130 degrees centigrade. 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, melting at -168 degreescentigrade.

(2) Maleic anhydride adduet. of 3.-beta-heptanoyloxybisnor-5,.'7,9 (11-) -cholatrien-2-2.-al, melting at 197.5-199 degrees centigrade. 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazone, melting at 253-257 degrees centigrade.

( 3) Dimethyl maleate adduct of 3-beta-benzoyloxybisnor-5,'7.,9.(ll)-cholatrien-2 2-al, melting at 183-187 degrees centigrade. 2, 4.-dinitrophei'iylhydrazone,v melting at 224-249. degrees centigrade.

(4) Dimethyl maleate adduct of 3-beta-acetoXybisnor-5;7,9.(11-) -cholatrien-22-al melting at 172-178: degrees centigrade. 2=,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, melting at 238 to 244 degrees centigrade.

(5.) Dimethyl maleate adduct of 3hydroxy-- bisnor-5,7,9(Ill-cholatrien-22eal, melting at 163-- degrees centigrade. 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, melting at. 250-254 degrees centigrade.

In a manner similar to the. above,- the maleic anhydride adduet of 3 -hydroxybisnor-5,7,9(11') cholatrien-22-al is obtained from dehydroergos= teryl-maleic anhydride adduct; themaleic acid adduct. of :i-hydroxybisnor-fiflg (11 -chol'atrien- 22 -2.1. is, obtained from. dehydroergosterylmaleic acid, adduct; and 3.-acy1oXybisnor-5,7,9(11)- cholatrien-22-al maleic aeidadducts are obtained fromthe maleic acid adduct of 3-acyloxydehydroergosterols.

, tion.

Preparation 9.--Dimethyl maleate adduct of 3-hydrorybisnor-5,7,9(11) -choZatrien-Z2-al A solution of 2.69 grams (.005 mole) of the dimethyl ester of the maleic acid adduct of dehydroergosterol, in eighty milliliters of methylene chloride, cooled by a dry-ice and trichloroethylene bath, was treated with ozonized oxygen until 247.36 milligrams (.0051 mole) of ozone was absorbed. The solution was then allowed to warm to room temperature, whereafter thirty milliliters of acetic acid was added and the methylene chloride removed in vacuo. While cooling in a water-bath at fifteen degrees centigrade, four grams of zinc dust was added in portions with stirrin the temperature being maintained between fifteen and twenty degrees centigrade. Stirring was continued for another fifteen minutes, whereafter the zinc was separated by filtra- The filtrate was diluted with water to cloudiness, extracted with ether, the ether extract washed with sodium bicarbonate and then with water to neutrality, the solution then dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was crystallized from acetic acid and water, giving 1.92 grams (81.5 percent of the theoretical), melting point 91-9? degrees centigrade, which yielded a dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative in 72.5 percent yield, melting point 212-22 de rees cent grade. The aldeh e was recrystallized and found to have a purified melting point of 163-170 degrees centrigrade. while the dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative was recrystallized until a melting point of 250-254 degrees centigrade was attained.

Preparation 10.MaZeic anhydride adduct of 3 beta-acetozry 22 acetomybisnor-5.7,9(11), 20( 22) -choZ-atetraene A mixture of twenty grams of the maleic anhycholatrien-22-al, six grams of anhvdrous sodium acetate, and 600 milliliters of acetic anhydride, was heated under reflux for six hours, whereafter volatile components were removed under reduced pressure. The resulting solid was digested with five fifty-milliliter portions of boiling acetone for five minutes each, and. the extracts combined and diluted with 130 milliliters of water. There was thus obtained sixteen grams of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-betaacetoxy-22-acetoxybisnor 579(11). 20(22) cholatetraene. which melted at 186 to 193 degrees centigrade. Recrystallization of the crude product from a mixture of acetone and pentane raised the melting point to 200.5 to 202 degrees centigrade.

Preparation 11 In a manner essentially that described in Preparation 10, the following compounds were prepared:

(1) The dimethyl maleate adduct of 3-betabenzoyloxy-22-acetoxybisnor 5,7,9(11),20(22)- cholatetraene, which melted at 210 to 211 degrees centigrade.

(2) The dimethyl maleate adduct of 3-betaacetoxy 22 acetoxybisnor 5,7,9(11),20(22)- cholatetraene, which melted at 181 to 183 degrees centigrade.

In the same manner as given above, 22-acyloxy, e. g., formoxy, acetoxy, propionoxy, butroxy, valeroxy, hexanoyloxy, heptanoyloxy, octanoyloxy, benzoyloxy, and the like 3-acyloxybisnor- 5,7.9(l1),20(22)-cholatetraene adducts, are obtained from the compounds of Preparations 6, '7, and 8. Such representative compounds include 3-.

formoxy 22 acetoxybisnor 5,7,9(1l),20(22) cholatetraene, 3-propionoxy 22 acetoxybisnor- 5,7,9(11) ,20'(22) cholatetraene, 3,22 dipropionoxybisnor 5,7,9(11) ,20 (22) cholatetraene, 3,22- dibenzoyloxybisnor 5,7,9(11) ,20 (22) cholatetraene, and 3 heptanoyloxy-ZZ-octanoyloxybisnor '5,'7,9(11),20(22) -cholatetraene adducts with maleic anhydride or maleic acid esters such as the dimethyl maleate, diethyl maleate, dipropyl maleate, diisopropyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, clioctyl maleate, dibenzyl maleate, and the like.

Preparation 12.Maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetozcy-5,7,9 (11) -pregnatrzene-20-one ,A solution of 5.08 grams of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoxybisnor-5,f7.9(11)- cholatrien-22-a1 enol acetate in milliliters of methylene chloride was cooled to about minus seventy degrees centigrade and oxonized until 483 milligrams of ozone had been absorbed. Fifty milliliters of glacial acetic acid was then added and the methylene chloride removed under reduced pressure. An additional thirty milliliters of glacial acetic acid was then added and the ozonide decomposed by adding seven grams of powdered zinc at a substantially uniform rate while maintaining the reaction temperature between seventeen and twenty degrees centigrade. The mixture was stirred for an additional twenty minutes, filtered, and the zinc washed with milliliters of glacial acetic acid. The organic extracts were combined and diluted with seventy milliliters of water. When crystallization commenced, the rate of precipitation was increased by addition of two volumes of water. There was thus obtained 4.0 grams of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoxy-5,7,9 (11) -pregnatrien-20-one, which melted at 240 to 264.5 degrees centigrade. Several recrystallizadride adduct f 3 beta acet0Xybisnor 5,-7,9(11) 5 tions of the crude material from acetone raised the melting point to 263.5 to 264.5 degrees centirade.

Preparation 13.--Maleic acid adduct of 3-betahydroxy-5,7,9(11) -pregnatrien-20-one A solution of 4.52 grams (0.01 mole) of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoxy-5,'7,- 9(11)-pregnatrien-20-one, M. P. 263-2645 de grees centigrade, in a mixture of 100 milliliters of 1,4-dioxane and 400 milliliters of water containing four grams (0.1 mole) of sodium hydroxide was allowed to stand at room temperature for two and one-half hours, whereupon a small quantity of plate-like crystals formed. These were dissolved by heating the mixture to seventy degrees centigrade for one-half hour. The reaction mixture was then made acid with fifty milliliters of three normal hydrochloric acid and refrigerated to give a precipitate of 3.05 grams of needle-like crystals melting at 173-177 degrees centigrade. On crystallization from a dioxane-water mixture, the compound melted. at 211-215 degrees centigrade. The melting point was found to vary somewhat with the rate of Preparation 14.--Dimethyl maleate of 3-betahadron-51,961) -pregnatrien-20-one A suspension of 0.4 gram of the maleic acid adduct of 3-beta-hvdroxy-5,7,9(11) -pregnatrien- 20-.one, in fifty milliliters, of. dry ether, was cooled 1. 3 in an; ice-saltibath while a slight excessof diazo methanein methylene chloride was added; over a 25-minute period with stirring. Ten, minutes aiter addition was complete, the solution was placed on a steam bath and concentrated rapidly to dryness. The residue was crystallized from an acetone-water mixture to give 0.34 gram of" Preparation 15.--MaZei-,c anhydride adduet of 3- beta-heptcaoylory-5.7,9(21) -pregnatrien-20-one The maleic anhydride adduct of 3'-heta-hep tanoyloxy-5,7,9(l1) -pregnatrien-20-one melting point l70-17l degrees centigrade, was prepared by refluxingv the maleic acid adduct of S-heta.- hydroxy-5,7, 9 l1) -pregnatrien28-one with heptylic anhydride and pyridine for a period of twenty hours, and working up the reaction prodnot in theusual manner.

Preparation 16f.-Mclcic anhydride adduct 0;. 3-

beta-hydrory-Ejfl (l1) -pregnatrien-2d-oner Similarly, the maleic anhydride adduct of 3- beta hydrox-y 5,7,9(1l) pregnatrien 20 one, melting point about 195 degrees centigrade, was. prepared by refluxing the maleic acid adduct 01 3-heta-hydroxy-5,7,9..(11') pregnatrien,- 20 one with Dowthermfor eight hours. The 3-hydroxymaleicanhydride adductis alsoobtained by heating: the 3V-hydroxy maleic acid adduct. to just above its melting point, which procedurecauses water to be evolved with closing of the anhydride ring.

Preparation IYr-DimethyZ maleate of 3,-betaacetone-5,7 ,9 (11 -preonatrien-2il-one A solution of 0.15 gram of the dimethyl male,- ate adduct of 3-heta-hydro:, y-5,7,9(lll-pregnas trien-ZD-one, in 2.5 milliliters of acetic anhydride 2.5 milliliters of pyridine, was heated on the steam bath. for ninety minutes, cooled to. room temperature, andpoured into ice water. Theresulting precipitate was collected by filtration and found to melt at, 205-209 degrees centigrade. Re:- crystallization from methanol gave the dimethyl maleate. of 3 beta acetoxy-5,7,9( 11) -pregnatrien-ZQ-one, melting at 207-211 degrees centigrade.

Analysis:

Calculated for 0291-13807: percent C, 59.86; percent H, 715.8 percent C, 69.81;. percent H, 7.86

Found By the same manner of esterification, the following (3-3 esters were prepared: (1) 'dimethyl maleate adduct of 3-heta-formoxy-5,7,9(ll)- pregnatrien-Zll-one, melting point 223-230 degrees centigrade, and (2) the dimethyl maleate adduct' of 3-beta-benzoylcxy-5,7,9(l1)-pregnatrien-ZO-one, melting point 250-254 degrees centigrade.

. 14 Preparation 18;=-Dimethyl maleate: of; 31-betaanatomy-5,7,9 (11,) -pregnatrz'en-20-one A suspension of fifteen grams of 3-beta-ace toxy-5,7,9.(11)-pregnatrien-20-one maleic anhydride' adduct" in 320 milliliters of methanol was cooled in an ice-salt bath. A boiling chip was added and the suspension treated with approximately 775' milliliters ofdiazomethane-methylene chloride solution in-100-milliliter portions over a period'of' three hours; all of the solid going into solution; At the end of this time the solution was reduced to one-half its original volume on the steam bath to remove excess diazomethane,

, filtered, and concentrated to about-250 milliliters.

7 maleic acid anhydride, and maletic acid diester 'iil adducts; Such compounds include the 3-formoxy-5,7 ,9(11) -pregnatrien 20 one maleic acid, maleic acid anhydride, dimethyl maleate, diethyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, dioctyl maleate, diisopropyl maleate, dibenzyl maleate, and like adducts; the" corresponding-3-propionoxy, butyroxy, valeroxy; hexanoyloxy; heptanoyloxy, octonoyloxy; benzoyloxy; and similar 20-ketone adducts, including, for: example, 3,-propionoxy-5,7,9(1'1),-. pregnatrien-ZO one dipropyl maleate, 3-benzoyloxy.-5,7,9 (1i1) -pregnatrien-20-one dibenzyl maleate, 3&- heptanoyloxy- 5,7 ,9(11) -pregnat-rien-20- one dimethyl maleate, 3-valeroyloxy-5,7,9(ll)- pregnatrien-20 -one maleic acid anhydride adducts, and the like.

Preparation 19.Dimethyl maleate, adduct of 3- beto-acetoxy-9Jl owido-5,7 pregnadien-20-one One gram. (0.002 mole) of the dimethyl maleate adduct of; 3-beta-acetoxy-5,7,9 (1 1) -pregnatrien- 20-one. was dissolved. in 25. milliliters of glacial acetic acid, and a solution of one milliliter of thirty percent hydrogen peroxide (four molar equivalents) in six milliliters of glacial acetic acid was added theretov at room, temperature. The reaction mixture was heated on the steam bath for four hours, and: thereafter allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. The mixture was thenpoured into 300 milliliters of water, the resulting precipitate. separated by filtration, washed with water, and dried.v Thev yield was 810' milligrams of the oxide compound melting at. 19.7-206:degrees centigrade, Afterfive recrys tallizations from methanol and acetone-hexane, the dimethyl maleate adduct of 3-heta-acetoxy- 9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one melted at 216- 221 degrees centigrade; [alpha] Dari-F1111 degrees (in chlorofonn')=-.

Analysis:

Calculated for CzsHasOa: percent C, 67.68; percentH, 7.4a Found percent 6, 67.74;, percent H, 7.35 68.02: 7.49

Preparation 20.-Maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoxy-9,11-oa:ido-5,7 pregnadien-ZO- one Five grams (0.011 mole) of the maleic anhyd'ride, add'uct." oi: 3i-beta-acetoxy-5,7,9(l1)-pregnatrien-ZO-one was dissolved in 120 milliliters of separated by filtration, washed with water, and The yield was dried in a vacuum desiccator. 4.88 grams (94.8 percent), melting at 232-246 degrees centigrade. After two recrystallizations from acetone, crystals of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoxy-9,l1-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-ZO-one, melting at 240-246 degrees centigrade, were obtained.

Analysis:

Calculated for (3271-13207;

percent C, 69.21; percent H, 6.89 percent C, 69.43; percent H, 6.94 69.30; 6.97

Found:

Preparation 21.Malez'c anhydride adduct 3-beta-aceto$y-9,11-o:rido-5,7 pregnadien-ZO- one A solution of fifty grams of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-betaacetoxy-5,7,9(11)-pregnatrien-ZD-one in 1200 milliliters of glacial acetic acid was prepared by heating the ingredients together on a steam bath. The mixture was then cooled below forty degrees centigrade and fifty milliliters of thirty percent hydrogen peroxide in 300 milliliters of glacial acetic acid added thereto. The mixture was then heated on.the steam bath for one hour at a temperature of 85 degrees centigrade or above, and was then poured into three to five volumes of ice and water. The yield was 47.7 grams (92 percent), melting point 238-243 degrees centigrade, [alpha] +31.1 degrees in chloroform. The product was dissolved in methylene chloride and precipitated by addition of ether to give 37.7 grams of purified product having a melting point of 254 to 259 degrees centigrade [alpha] +33.2 degrees (in chloroform).

Preparation 22 In'the same manner as given above for the preparation of 3-beta-acetoxy-9,1l-oxido-5,7- pregnadien-ZO-one maleic anhydride adduct, the following compounds were prepared:

(1) Maleic anhydride adduct of 3-benzoyloxy- 9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one, M. P. 258-260 degrees centigrade, [alpha] +24.4 degrees (in chloroform) Found (2) Maleic anhydride adduct of 3-heptanoylcxy-9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one, M. P. 168- 169.5 degrees centigrade, [alphal +26.1 degrees (in chloroform).

Analysis:

Calculated for C32H4107:

percent C. 71.48 percent H, 7.69 percent C, 71.27; percent H, 7.43

Found Preparation 23.-Maleic acid adduct 0 3-beta- Midway-9,11-orido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one Approximately 445 milliliters of five percent sodium hydroxide solution was added to 2.26 grams of 3-beta-acetoxy-9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic anhydride adduct in a oneliter Erlenmeyer flask, and the mixture stirred until the solid had gone into solution. About 185 milliliters of ten percent hydrochloric acid was then added at room temperature or below, until the mixture was acid to congo red paper, whereupon the hydroxy diacid began to precipitate. Upon cooling the flask overnight, filtering and air-drying the product at room temperature, a yield of 19.4 grams of desired 3-beta-hydroxy- 9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic acid adduct, melting at 229-233 degrees centigrade with decomposition was obtained. An additional crop of crystals was obtained by concentration of the mother liquor.

The same product is obtained by epoxidation of the 9,11 double bond of 3-beta-hydroxy-5,7,9(11) pregnatrien-20-one maleic acid adduct with hydrogen peroxide in the manner of the preceding preparations, using a glacial acetic acid medium.

Preparation 24.-Maleic anhydride adduct 01 3-beta-hydroa2y-9,11 -owido-5,7-pregnadien-20- one 3-beta-hydroxy-9,11 -0xid05,'7-pregnadien-20- one maleic acid adduct (19.4 grams) was placed in a vacuum oven and heated for ten hours at 137-140 degrees centigrade under a pressure of only one-half millimeter of mercury. The yield of desired anhydride, which melts at 233 to 249 degrees centigrade with decomposition, was quantitative.

The same product is obtained by epoxidation of the 9,11 double bond of 3-betahydroxy-5,7,9(11)- pregnatrien-ZO-one maleic anhydride adduct with hydrogen peroxide in the manner of the preceding preparations, using a glacial acetic acid medium.

Preparation 25.--Monomethyl maleate of 3-betahydroxy-9,11-omido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one A solution of five grams of the maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta-acetoxy-9,11-oxido-5,7-pregna dien-20-one in 145 milliliters of methanol and a solution of five grams of sodium hydroxide in 25 milliliters of water were mixed and the mixture allowed to stand for one hour, whereafter 145 milliliters of water was added, the mixture allowed to stand for seven hours, then made acid with three normal hydrochloric acid and placed in the refrigerator. The mixture was then extracted with methylene chloride, washed with sodium chloride, and dried over sodium sulfate. The yield was 4.93 grams, melting point -160 degrees centigrade. After recrystallization three times from a solution of chloroform, methanol, and ether, the melting point was 193-198 degrees centigrade, [alphal -i-19A degrees (chloroform).

Analysis:

Calculated for Casi-1:401:

percent C, 68.10; percent H, 7.47; percent OCHa, 6.76

Found:

Percent C, 67.90; percent H, 7.14; percent OCHa, 6.22 67.97; 7.35; 6.12

The same product is obtained by epoxidationof the 9,11 double bond of 3-beta-hydroxy.-'5,7,9.(1-1) pregnatrien-zo-one monomethyl maleate with hydrogen peroxide according to the manner of the preceding preparations.

Preparation 26.Dimethyl maleate of 3-betahydroxy- 9,1 1 oa: icZo-5 ,7 -pregnadien-20one A suspension of 0.65 gram of the monomethyl ester of the maleic acid aduct of 3-beta-hydroxy- 9,11-oxido-5,7-pregn adien:Z-one in twenty milliliters of anhydrous etherwas treated with an excess of diazometha'ne in methylene chloride solution. On addition ,of methylene chloride the compound wentdhto solution, and was allowed to stand about two hours, the solution evaporated to dryness, and the residue dissolved in twelve milliliters of hot ethanol, filtered, concentrated, water ,addedfand the solution placed in the refrigerator. The precipitate was separatedby filtration, to .give a yield of .054 gram, melting at 207-211 degrees centigrade. .The product waspassed over a column of alumina for purification, and this procedure yielded 0.5 gram of product, which upon crystallization from from methanol had a melting point of 210-212 degrees centigrade, IaIphaJ -l-ISA idegreesxchloroiormk' Analysis al ula d Q 32 K3 0 Per cent C, 68.62; per cent H, 7.68; per cent OCHa, 13.13 Found: 7

Per cent C, 68.62; per cent H, 7.61;. per

cent OCHs, 12.10 Per cent C, 68.61; per cent H, 7.64; per cent QCHs, 12.22

in r re an l i was in a reem n w h th structure proposed.

The same product is obtained ,byepoxidation f the. 91 dou l bend of Basia-h men 5,7,9(1li-pregnatrien-zq-one dimethyl maleate with hydrogen peroxide according to the method of the preceding preparations, or from the cor responding diacid or anhydride in' methanol by atment t azqm h n n m hyle e chloride. I v

Other adducts of B-hydroxyand S-acyloxy- 9, 1l-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one include 3- propionoxy 9,11} oxido 5,7 pregnadien 20 one maleic acid adduct, 3-butyroxy-9,11-oxido- 5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic anhydride adduct, 3-formoxy-9,11oxide-5,7-pregnadien-20-one dimethyl maleate adduct, 3-formoxy-9,11-oxido- 5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic anhydride adduct, 3-acetoxy-9,1l-oxido{5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic acid adduct, ',3-propionoXy-9,11-oxido-5,7- pregnadien-20-one dimethyl maleate adduct, 3- butyroxy-9,11-oxido;7-pregnadien-20-one diethyl maleate adduct, 3-octanoyloxy-9,11-oxido- 5,7-pregnadienohe dioctyl maleate adduct, f-bQ Q X Q Q 5 7 pre nad e 0-0 9 m ic aci ad uct. -P P 1QX TQ dqr' i r 'fi nr2 r 16 maleic anh ride du t a d th li e. wh ch are r p ed i the ame manner as siren ab ve, b ,epox dat en 9f the selected 9,11-unsaturated starting compound.

Example 1.3,9,11 Trz'acetoxy-5,7-pregnaaien- 2 1? m l i weee il e mersed in an ice-salt bath, were added eight grams .of' 3-beta-acetoxy-9,1 1-oXido-5,7-pregnadien-ZO-one maleic anhydrideadduct and 400. milliliters of acetic anhydride (Merck reagent grade). After solution was complete andafter the inside temperature had dropped to between zero and four degrees centigrade, sixteen drops of anhydrous stanni'c chloride was added thereto. The reaction was Eallowed to continue for 45 minutes with stirring, and, at the end of this time, the reaction mixture was poured into three liters of ice and water. {The ice and Water mixture was stirred until all of "the acetic anhydride had hydrolized and the product had precipitated as white platelets. The white product was filtered oiT and dried: weight 9.512 grams, M. P. 205-215 degrees centigrade Two recrystallizations from an acetone-isopropyl ether mixture gave 4.2 grams, M. P. 228-234 degrees centigrade (tube), 265-270 degrees centigrade, with softening at 235 degrees centigrade (block); ph e rdt de s li h o o erml i e yield wa 4. p rc In exactly the same manner as given in'Example 1, thiscompound is prepared from 3-benzoylw- .1 1 -.0 do fid-nresnadien-zo-onema ei anhydride adduct (Preparation '22) Example 3.-Heptanoyloa:y-9,11-diacetoxy-5,7- pregnadien-zoeon'e maleic anhydrzde adduct In exactly the same manner as given in Example 1,this compound i'spreparedfrom 3-heptanoyloxy-9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic anhydrideadduct (Preparation'22).'

Example 4.3,9,11-Triacetoacy-5,Z-pregnadien- 20-one dime'thylmaleate adduct le -re ur he me a e as ve in am- P1? 1, ihi p n i pre a e .I om 3- etosvl sidaa'l-nree iadie -zqrqne d m th :nmleate adduct (Preparation 19).

Example 5.--3 -Acetoa:y-9,1 1 -dipropionoxy-5,7- C j qcZim-j30- m leic anhy d a d t one, 3-benzoyloxy-9,lledipropionoxy-5.7-pregna-,

dien-2.0=0ne, and .3-propionoxy-9,11-diacetcxy- 5,7-pregnadiene20-qne maleic ,anh'ydride, maleic acid, andmaleic acid dimethyl,.diethy1,idipropyl,

diisopropyljdibutyl, jdiamyl, .dihexyl, diheptyl, dioctyl and like diester' adducts, and the like, all

of which are prepared ,by ,reactionof a suitable corresponding 3-hydroxy or 3-.acyl0xy-9,11- oxide-5,.7-pregnadien-20-one adduct with a lower-aliphatic acid anhydride in' the presence of stannic chloride catalyst, as illustrated .by :the foregoing examples.

duct using an excess of propionic 341 15?" 19 adducts of the present invention are extremelyv useful in the preparation of 3,9,11-trihydroxy- 5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic acid adducts and di-alkali metal salts thereof. These compounds have the formula:

OH CH:

O HO /CH-AOX H-C-OX wherein X is hydrogen or an alkali metal, e. g., sodium or potassium. The alkali-metal salts are obtained. by careful saponification of a 3,9,11-triacyloxy adduct with a suitable alkali metal base, e. g., sodium or potassium hydroxide, in an organic solvent, e. g., dioxane or the like. A one normal solution of the base has been found satisfactory when the anhydride adduct is employed, and the same or similar concentrations are also suitable when a maleic acid or maleic acid diester adduct is used as starting material for the saponification.

The free acid is usually obtained directly from the 3,9,11-triacy1oxy adduct, after saponification to the trihydroxy maleic acid salt, but without separation thereof, by neutralization using an aqueous mineral acid, e. g., hydrochloric acid.

Example A.3,9,11-Trihydroxy-5J-pregnadien- 20-one maleic acid adduct disodium salt The maleic anhydride adduct of 3-beta,9,1ltriacetoxy-5,'7-pregnadien-20-one (11.05 gram) was dissolved in 200 milliliters of purified dioxane by prolonged heating. To this solution was added 250 milliliters of two normal sodium hydroxide solution at room temperature and the mixture diluted with an additional fifty milliliters of water, making approximately a one normal solution of sodium hydroxide. This was allowed to stand at room temperature for two hours, at the'end of which time formation of the 3,9,11- trihydroxy-5,7-pregnadien 20 one maleic acid adduct disodium salt was complete. Use of potassium hydroxide in place of sodium hydroxide is productiveof the dipotassium salt.

Example B.3,9,11-Trihydroxy-5,7-pregnadien- 20-one'maleic acid adduct The reaction mixture from Example 1 was partially neutralized by addition of 100 milliliters of three normal hydrochloric acid and then evaporated in vacuo at 40 degrees centigrade to a volume of 310 milliliters thereby removing all dioxane. The reaction mixture was then made acid to Congo red paper by adding an additional 80 milliliters of three normal hydrochloric acid, and placed in the refrigerator for several hours. The yield of crude product was 71.5 percent. This was redissolved in 40 milliliters of 0.5 normal sodium hydroxide, diluted to 200 milliliters with water, made acid with 45 milliliters .of one normal hydrochloric acid, and cooled. The yield was 5.62 grams of white needles, M. P. 255-264 '20 degrees centigrade. The trihydroxy diacid (A) (3,9,11-trihydroxy-5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic acid aduct) may then be reacyclated, if desired, using, for example acetic anhydride and pyridine.

Such procedure is productive of a lactone of the formula:

CHI

AcO -0 0 OH wherein Ac is an acyl group corresponding to the acylating agent employed. The fact that the eleven hydroxy group undergoes acylation indicates it to have the alpha configuration, since known eleven betahydroxy compounds do not acylate at the eleven hydroxy group with the usual acylating agents. No additional informa-: tion is available to indicate that the eleven hydroxy group is not a beta-hydroxy group.

Example C.Acylation of 3,9,11-trihydromy-5J- pregnadien-ZO-one maleic acid adduct 3,9,11-Trihydroxy-5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic acid adduct was dissolved in twenty milliliters of acetic anhydride and one drop of dry pyridine was added as catalyst. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for fifteen hours. In the process of isolation the product was taken to dryness under vacuum at steam bath temperature (eighty degrees centigrade) and redissolved in an organic solvent. From this solvent an amorphous solid was obtained. Infra red studies on this material established the structure as that of 3,11-diacetoxy-9- hydroxy-5,7-pregnadien-20-one maleic acid adduct 9-hydroxy lactone.

Alternatively, the trihydroxy diacid (A) may be laotonized, using heat alone, to produce a compound of the formula:

o=o H HO -COOH This lactone (3,9,11-trihydroxy-5,7-pregnadien- 20-one maleic acid adduct 9-hydroxy lactone) may be acylated in the 3 and 11 position using an acyl chloride or other standard acylation pro duct) is productive of the compound 9-hydroxy-:

9'hydroxy lactone, of the iormula:

.5,!.Z-pregnadien-3,,ll,20-trione maleic acid adduct .GHa

ment with a diazoalkane or by other conventional esterification procedure.

Example D.-O:cidation of 3,9,11-Trihydroxy-J- pregnadz'en-ZO-one maleic acid adduct 3,7,9 Trihydroxy 5,7 pregnadien one maleic acid adduct (500 milligrams, 0.001 mole) was dissolved in twenty milliliters of glacial acetic acid and to this solution was added a solution of chromic oxide (220 milligrams, 0.0022 mole) dissolved in five drops of water and diluted with twenty milliliters of glacial acetic acid. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for a two-hour period and the excess chromic oxide then destroyed with fifteen milliliters of ethanol. The reaction mixture was poured into ice and water and the water solution extracted three times with ZOO-milliliter portions of methylene chloride. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the resulting solid dried under vacuum at steam-bath temperature (eighty degrees centigrade). The product was taken up in 0.5 normal sodium hydroxide solution and acidified to Congo red paper with dilute hydrochloric acid. The resulting yellow needles were determined by infrared study to be a mixture of 9-hydroxy-5,'I-pregnadien-3,11,20-trione maleic acid adduct and 9-hydroxy-5,7-pregnadien-3,11,20- trione maleic acid aduct Q-hydroxy lactone. with the latter predominating.

Methylation of the mixture with diazomethane and subsequent chromatography gave the methyl ester of the lactone in pure form. Recrystallization from methanol gave an analytical sample; Analysis:

Calculated: per cent C, 68.70; per cent H, 6.65

Found: C, 68.87 H, 6.69 68.44; 6.55 CHsO Calculated: 6.82 Found: 6.84;

[a] (micro) (chloroform) It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

. "4. 3.941 .--triacyloxy r ,7 presnadienv 0- ee ed u tqf h lfomi a We laim;

. sive, and wherein A is the adduct radical of a dienophile selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, and maleic acid diesters containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, in the esterifying groups.

2. A 3 acyloxy 9,11 acetoxy 5,7 pregnadien-20-one maleic anhydride adduct of the formula:

I/\/ CHG=O QQ y CHs wherein Ac is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an acyl group which is the residue of an organic carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive,

, and wherein A is the adduct radical of a dienophile selected from the group consisting of maleic 23 acid, maieic anhydride, and maleic acid diesters containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, in the esterifying groups, with an excess of a lower-aliphatic acid anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of stannic chloride, and separating the 3,9,11-triacy1oxy-5,7-pregnadien-20 one adduct thus produced.

5. Process of claim 4, wherein the temperature is maintained between about minus ten and plus ten degrees centigrade.

6. Process of claim 4, wherein the lower-aliphaticanhydride is acetic anhydride.

7. Process of claim 4, wherein the starting adduct is a 3-acy1oxy-9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien- 24 20-one maieic anhydride adduct, and the lower aliphatic acid anhydride is acetic anhydride.

8. Process of claim 4, wherein the starting adduct is a 3-acy1oxy-9,11-oxido-5,7-pregnadien- 20-one maleic anhydride adduct, and the loweraliphatic acid anhydride is acetic anhydride, the reaction temperature being between about minus ten and plus ten degrees centigrade.

No references cited. 

1. A 3,9,11-TRIACYLOXY-5,7-PREGNADIEN-20ONE ADDUCT OF THE FORMULA: 